Ice and Snow Festival in China

The 8th Ice and Snow World opened to visitors in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on January 5 and continues until February 25. More than 2000 ice sculptures are on display at the annual event.

The Harbin Ice Festival, established in 1985, is held annually from January 5 and lasts for over one month. This is China's greatest ice artwork festival and attracts hundreds of thousands of local and overseas visitors.

The city's location in northeast China accounts for its arctic climate which provides abundant ice and snow. The 'Ice City' of Harbin is recognized as home to ice and snow art in China and is famous for its exquisite sculptures.

The fabulous Ice Lantern Festival was the forerunner of the current event and is still perhaps the best loved part of the festival in the opinion of those who come to Harbin annually.

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